Court Sides with Property Owners over EPA

The Supreme Court ruled unanimously yesterday that property owners have a right to prompt review of Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) compliance orders that block activities on lands determined to be protected. In the case, an Idaho couple contested the EPA’s determination that their lot contained wetlands regulated by the Clean Water Act. They also complained there was no reasonable way to challenge that determination without risking fines that could mount quickly. The court rejected EPA's argument that allowing judicial review would compromise the agency's ability to deal with water pollution, allowing the couple to contest the EPA’s determination in federal court. The News Sentinel has the story